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ICCC’s six-city India Mission 2013
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Report and photographs on Kochi programs
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Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC)’s India Mission 2013 which started on January 3 from Toronto will be completing its final leg tomorrow when it reaches Amritsar. The Mission has already visited Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kochi, Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar and Delhi. Led by ICCC’s President Naval Bajaj, the Mission comprises over a 100 small businesses from Canada and also includes a team from the Cities of Brampton and Markham led by their respective mayors – Her Worship Susan Fennell (Brampton) and His Worship Frank Scarpitti (Markham). In Kochi, the delegates participated in the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2013, the Eleventh edition of the global convention of the Indian Diaspora.
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ICCC President Naval Bajaj speaking at Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Plenary Session III
on Engaging Young Overseas Indians
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Luncheon with Hon. Jason Kenney
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Hon. Jason Kenney at Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Kochi
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ICCC delegates at the luncheon reception hosted by Hon. Jason Kenney
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Hon. Jason Kenney, Canada’s Minister for Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism had especially flown down to India to be with the Canadian delegates participating in the convention. He hosted a luncheon for the Indian delegates where Dr. Asha Seth, Senator, Senate of Canada, spoke along with Naval Bajaj and the Mayors of Brampton and Markham. Minister Kenney lauded the positive role of the ICCC in fostering bilateral relations between Canada and India and also proactively engaging the Indian Diaspora into the social, cultural and economic fabric of Canada.
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Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
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ICCC India Mission 2013 delegates with Hon. Jason Kenney, Canada's Minister for Citizenship, Immigration & Multiculturalism, Hon. Dr. Asha Seth, Senator, Hon. Joe Daniel, MP, His Excellency Stewart Beck, Canadian High Commissioner & Her Worship Susan Fennell, Mayor of Brampton
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Naval Bajaj, President, ICCC, was one of the speakers at the third Plenary Session on the second day of the three-day convention. The session discussed Engaging Young Overseas Indian and included eminent personalities such as Honourable Salman Khurshid, Minister of External Affairs, Government of India; Honourable Mookhesswur Choonee, Minister for Arts and Culture, Republic of Mauritius; Honourable Ajay Maken, Minister for Housing and Poverty Alleviation, Government of India; Honourable K. C. Venugopal, Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Government of India; Honourable Madhu Yaskhi Goud, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha; Dr. Ruby Dhalla, Former Member of Parliament, Canada; T. P. Sreenivasan, Former Ambassador of India and Governor of the IAEA; Dr. G. Mohan Gopal, Director, Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies; and Dr. Vidya Rajiv Yeravdekar, Principal Director, Symbiosis.
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Hon. Dr. Asha Seth, Senator, with Mayor of Markham Frank Scarpitti & ICCC delegates
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ICCC's Naval Bajaj along with the other panelists at the PBD-India's Plenary Session-III
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Discussing the subject, the ICCC President emphasized the need to engage the youth from Indian Diaspora. He said, “It stands to reason that for the Indian Diaspora to play an effective role for building partnerships between host countries and India, they have to integrate well into the societies of host countries. Greater civic engagement of members of Indian Diaspora with mainstream societies of host countries may bring substantial benefits to India. Indian Diaspora Organizations need to pay attention to this matter. The effectiveness of the process of engaging Young Overseas Indians for mutual benefits can be enhanced by appropriate policy measures by the governments of India and of host countries concerned, as well as by their private sectors and civil societies, and above all by various Indian Diaspora organizations acting in tandem.”
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KSIDC
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Mayors of Brampton and Markham along with India Mission 2013 delegates
at the interactive session organized by KSIDC
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The Mission delegates also had an interactive session with the officials of Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) and the Government of Kerala in Kochi. The KSIDC officials utilized the interactive session to showcase the investment opportunities available in Kerala. Speaking on the occasion, Naval Bajaj observed that little is known outside India of the investment opportunities available in southern parts of India, and that there is need for better exposure. The selection of Kochi as a venue for PBD-India would go a long way in addressing this anomaly.
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Meetings
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With Sam Pitroda
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With Vayalar Ravi
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With Vayalar Ravi
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With Oomen Chandy
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With E Ahamad
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With Dr. Didar Singh
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At the PBD-India, the delegation met several Indian dignitaries and decision makers. These included meetings with:
- Sam Pitroda, the Advisor to the Prime Minister of India on Public Information Infrastructure & Innovations, and the chairman of India’s National Innovation Council.
- Honourable Vayalar Ravi, India’s Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs
- Honourable E Ahamad, Minister of State for External Affairs
- Honourable Ooomen Chandy, Chief Minister of Kerala
- Dr. S. Didar Singh, Secretary General, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry
Naval Bajaj discussed scope of enhancing Canada-India bilateral relations.
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